US 2020/0091744 A1 · DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SWAPPING AND/OR CHARGING A BATTERY OF A MOBILE ROBOT

Abstract

A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot, includes a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one of: holding at least one battery, and charging at least one battery. A battery load/unload position is configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and from a mobile robot. A battery handling mechanism is configured to operate on a reaching range, comprising at least one of the following: (i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position, and (ii) the battery charging unit. A localization element is configured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of: at least one battery of the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or at least one battery positioned in the battery charging unit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot, the battery station comprising:

(a) a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one of:
(i) holding at least one battery, and/or
(ii) charging at least one battery;
and
(b) a battery load/unload position configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and from a mobile robot;
and
(c) a battery handling mechanism configured to operate on a reaching range, said reaching range comprising at least one of the following:
(i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or
(ii) the battery charging unit;
and
(d) a localization element configured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of the following:
(i) at least one battery of the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or
(ii) at least one battery positioned in the battery charging unit.

10 more elements

A method for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mobile robot, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one battery station comprising at least one station battery holder, and at least one mobile robot comprising at least one battery and at least one robot battery holder;
(b) positioning the at least one robot in a battery load/unload position;
(c) locating the at least one battery of the at least one mobile robot;
(d) unloading a discharged battery from the at least one robot battery holder of the mobile robot;
(e) transporting and loading the discharged battery to an unoccupied station battery holder of the battery station;
(f) unloading a charged battery from at least one occupied station battery holder of the battery station;
and
(g) transporting and loading the charged battery to the at least one robot battery holder of the mobile robot.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device, method and system for swapping and/or charging a battery of a mobile robot

Life of this patent

Device, method and system for swapping and/or charging a battery of a mobile robot

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20